Howto: State machine with sub states?

[Anders Lybecker]

Hi,

I’m wondering how I should use StateLess.Net in the following scenario:

Imagine an order processing system with orders and order lines. Each order line can have different states (approved, send to supplier, item received …) and so can the entire order – e.g. either the entire order as a hole can be approved or individual order lines.

Can I model that with StateLess.Net? How?

Regards,

Anders Lybecker

[Simon Mingaars]

Hi,

I would try to make an "order" and and "orderline" class, which each have there own stateless based state machine. Or you could try to have the orderline as substates for order, but that depends on the dependencies between order and orderlines.

Good luck!

Simon Mingaars

[Anders Lybecker]

Hi Simon,

But in the case where there is a dependency between the states in order and orderline? E.g if each orderline is approved then the entire order is approved.

Is it possible for a state transition on order to be dependent or the orderlines states?

Regards,

Anders Lybecker

[Simon Mingaars]

Offcourse, just make a transition from the orderline to the order "approved" state.

Regards,

Simon

[Anders Lybecker]

How can I make the order transition dependent on sub states on order lines?

[Simon Mingaars]

Just make another transition.

For example:

Order States (Substate)

Approved  -----transition----->  Pending ----transition------> Executed

                                                                                            |

                                                                                            |

                                                                                      transition

                                                                                            |

Orderline States (Superstate)                                                 \/

Approved  -----transition----->  Pending ----transition------> Executed

[Anders Lybecker]

Hi Simon,

So the Order States (Substates) and Orderlines States (Superstates) are all part of the same state machine?

Thanks for your help.

[Simon Mingaars]

That is one option. The other would be a new instance of a statemachine per order/ordeline, but you'll have to implement the dependency yourself.

Cheers,

Simon